South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer leaves no doubt on how he feels about Vols DL Xavier Gilliam ahead of game against Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam has been a gamewrecker this season.
Tennessee defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam has been a game wrecker for the Vols this season.
Gilliam, a junior who is in his first (and likely only) season at Tennessee after transferring from Penn State, has jumped off the screen during the first half of the season thanks to his incredible get off.
ESPN’s Cole Cubelic said earlier this month that he thinks Gilliam, who has 22 tackles and five sacks in seven games, is the best defensive player in college football this season.
“I don’t say this lightly, but I’m gonna say it: Xavier Gilliam is the best defensive player in college football,” said Cubelic. “I say that because I believe it. I don’t need to hype Tennessee. I don’t need anybody else telling me that I said it. Whatever. Like, give me another guy who is consistently wrecking shop like he is. … I’m just telling you right now — I don’t know another player in the nation that gets after people’s asses as often and to the extent that Xavier Gilliam does. I just don’t.
“The kid uses his hands. He’s got quickness. Now, also give (Vols defensive coordinator) Jim Knowles credit — they’re putting him in positions to make plays. So that’s another thing he’s got going for him. He has dominant quickness, power, batted balls, sacks, strips, fumble recoveries. Like, goodness gracious.”
Gilliam and the Vols will head to Columbia this weekend for a matchup against South Carolina.
And Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer is well aware of the impact that Gilliam could have on the game.
Beamer, in fact, says that Gilliam is arguably the best defensive lineman he’s seen during his six seasons as an SEC head coach.
“They’ve got a transfer from Penn State,” said Beamer. “Gilliam, he’s number two. He’s as good of a defensive tackle as we’ve seen in my six years now as the head coach. He’s a first-round draft pick and he can wreck games for opposing offenses.”
It’s not just the plays that Gilliam makes that make him such an elite player — it’s also the attention he commands from opponents which creates opportunities for teammates.
Gilliam was certainly a problem for Alabama’s offensive line last week, and he’ll need to be a problem on Saturday for the Vols to get a win in Columbia.
